October = scaring little kids

So in case you're an idiot and didn't realize it, it's October! This means my favorite season, fall, is well underway! What's so great about fall? I'd have to say it's the combination of Halloween, Thanksgiving, football, and everything leading up to Christmas. That's right, I love the holidays, even if it means I have to see the family (ugh).

So since it tis the season for horror movies, it's only natural to talk about spooky movies, right? Absolutely! And I have a long list of favorites to share with you! Here are two you may consider checking out:

Session 9 (R, 2001)
So if you like CSI's David Caruso, this one's a must see. No he doesn't get naked or anything (sorry to disappoint you), but he's in it! In this grade-A thriller that's as much a horror film as a mystery, an asbestos removal team takes a job cleaning out the long-since closed Danvers Mental Hospital in Massachusetts (where the movie was actually filmed). As the movie progresses, we discover something is terribly wrong with the situation in the hospital (but you'll have to watch it to find out what). The cleverly-crafted characters fit together with ease and keep the tension rising until the last scene, which will leave you scrambling to put the pieces together.
The filming here is nearly perfect, putting you right down in the creepiest corners of this abandoned hospital and keeping you on the edge of your seat almost the entire time. Can't say enough good things about this one, and the less you know going in the better.



The Serpent and the Rainbow (R, 1988)
Now let me make something perfectly clear: Horror movies have deteriorated significantly in recent history, and Wes Craven has had a lot to do with it. (Let's face it: He loves blood as much as Quentin Tarantino does.) But as far as Wes Craven movies go, this one was actually alright. Sure, there's still quite a bit of violence, but the film's creepiness definitely makes up for it. The basic plot in this film is as follows: anthropologist Dennis Alan (played by Bill Pullman) goes to Haiti when he hears rumors about a drug being used in black magic to bring the dead back to life. The drug works (of course), and Pullman's character goes on a quaint little journey to try to bring the drug back to the United States.
Unfortunately, the guy can't take the hint that he's in over his head, and he becomes acquainted with the secret police on more than one occasion. (Ah, dramatic irony.)
I guess I should mention that Pullman gets his scrotum nailed to a chair in this movie. (If for some reason you're into that? Or if you just have it on your list of things to see in life, you can check it off.) Don't worry though; you don't actually see it. (Otherwise I probably wouldn't be recommending it. Not exactly my cup of tea haha.) And it's just for a second, so if you can get beyond that, you'll probably like the rest of the movie.

Well, until next time!

-Tim